Bank-protecting apparatus.



F. C. SMAKAL. BANK PROTECTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30 1914 Patented June 8, 1m

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r. c SMAKAL BANK PROTECTING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30. 19M.

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TEN OFFICE.

FRANK C. SMAK AL, OF MIDAS, NEVADA.

BANK-PROTECTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1915.

Application filed June 30, 1914. Serial No. 848,256.

tains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to devices for protecting the cashier or other official of a bank against injury by thieves, and also relates to a novel and etlicient device for trapping the thieves.

The invention has for its object to provide a steel guard or shield normally supported in elevated position above the counter or desk of the cashier, and means for quickly and conveniently releasing the guard or shield and permittingthe latter 'to drop into operative position on the counter or desk to protect the cashier.

Another object is the provision of a trap door located in front of the cashiers cage and quickly and easily releasable by means within the cage.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts as will be hereinafter specifically described, claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 represents an interior view in elevation of a cashiers cell, showing the ap plication of my improved protecting and trapping apparatus. Fig. 2 represents a vertical sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a detail view, partly in section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 represents a top plan view of the vertically movable guard plate or shield. Fig.

. 5 represents a detail sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1, illustrating one of the locking bars and lifting arm therefor in detail, showing parts removed. Fig. 6 represents a detail sectional view illustrating the hand lever for adjusting the bolts.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates a counting table or desk ordinarily provided in the paying tellers or cashiers cell of a' bank and suitably supported on the floor 11 of the cell. The metal cage 12 is provided with the usual hinged or sliding door 13 and a rail 14 is secured to'the top edge of the cage 12 in the usual manner. A shaft 15 is journaled in the bearing members 16 depending from the floor 11 and extends parallel with the front wall 12 of the cell A pair of arms 17 are secured in spaced relation on the shaft 15 and project upwardly through openings 18 formed in the floor 11. The upper extremities of the arms 17 are connected by a tread bar 19 normally spaced above the floor l1 and adapted to be depressed by the foot of the operator to 05- cillate the shaft 15.

Pairs of spaced guide members 20 are se- I cured in a vertical position on the table 10 in close relation with the cage 12 and slidably receive the metallic guard plate or shield 21 having the opposite extremities 22 thereof directed rearwardly in angular relation to the medial portion 21 thereof, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. A pair of lugs or abutments 23 aresecured to, the rear face of the plate 21 and are normally engaged with the angularly directed ends of latch members 24 pivotally secured at 25 to vertically disposed bars 26 carrying pins 27 at their lower extremities engaged within slots 28 elongated longitudinally of arms 29 keyed on the shaft 15. The upper ends of the bars 26 are guided by brackets 30 carried by the guide members .20. The outer ends of the latch members 24 are connected with the upper ends of springs 31 secured at their lower ends to the brackets 30. tension of the springs 31 is sufficient to retain the guard plate 21 in elevatedposition. Cords or cables 32 are secured at the upper ends to the plates 21, extended over pulleys 33 secured to the top rail 14 and extend downwardly below the table 10, whereby the plates 21 may be conveniently raised.

The floor 11 directly in front of the wall 12" is provided with an opening 35 of sufficient size to permit the body of a man to pass therethrough, and said opening is normally closed by a door 36 pivotally secured to one edge of opening by hinges 37. Spaced blocks 38 are secured to the under side of the door 36 and are provided with openings 39 adapted to receive bolts 40 slidably mounted through a depending part 41 of the floor. Springs 42 are coiled about the bolt 40 and normally tend to withdraw the latter from the openings 39 of the blocks 30. A con- The i to the lower slotted end of a lever 43 pivoted in the floor 11 and provided at its ppper end with a suitable handle, whereby the bolts 40 Y may be manually withdrawn, when desired.

A pair of locking bars 44 are pivotally supported in the supporting members 45 secured to the under side of thefloor 11 and are engaged adjacent their free extremities in'the notches 46 formed in the bolts 40 for normally retaining the latter in engagement With the'openings or recesses 39 in the blocks 38. A pair of spaced arms 47 are secured to the shaft 15 and engage under the free extremities of the locking members 44 for lifting the latter and releasing the .bolts 40 when the shaft 15 is operated by depressing the tread plate or bar 19.

A cylindrical member 50 formed of insulating material is positioned within the floor 11 below the tread bar 19, and the stem or shank of a switch member 21 is slidably mounted therein and adapted to be engaged and depressed by said tread bar. The element 51 is normally retained in-elevated-po-' sition by a suitable spring arranged between the head thereof and the member 50. A pair of spring contact elements 52 are secured to the under side of the element 50 and are adapted to be engaged by the lower end of the shank of the member 51 to close the circuit to a danger signal 53 arranged conspicuously in front of the bank and an alarm device 54.

In operation, the tread bar 19 is depressed by the foot of the operator, oscillating the shaft 15 and raising the rods 26, which carry the latch members 24 upwardly, The springs 31 retain the outer ends of the latch/members 24 against upward movement, causing and the bolts 40 permitted to move outwardly from the latch 38 under the influence of the springs 42. The door 36 drops downwardly by gravity on the hinges 37, dropping the person standing thereon below. the floor 11. Downward movement of the tread bar 19 depresses the member 51 engaging the shank thereof between the spring contact 52 closing the circuits to the several alarm devices 55, 53 and 54.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new, is

In a bank protecting apparatus, a vertically slidable guard plate, a rock shaft rotatably mounted under said guard plate, a

tread bar carried by said rock shaft, arms carried by said shaft, vertically disposed bars pivotally secured at their lower extremities to said arms, latch members pivotally secured to the upper ends of said vertically disposed bars, lugs secured to the inner face of said guard plate engaging the adjacent ends of said latch members, and springs connected with the 'buter extremities of said latch members for normally'retaining the latterin horizontal position to support said guard plate in elevated position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 'in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK o. SMAKAL.

Witnesses:

J. L. FozARo, V. E. HAMLIN. 

